After the debacle of the magnificent copper Two Pence & Penny Cartwheels the Matthew Boulton SOHO mint in Birmingham presented a new design for 1799. The Half Penny version of this design was issued for circulation in 1799 but the Penny was not dated for issue until 1806. This impaired proof example is a special strike in copper that was gilded at the Soho mint as many many product of the Boulton mint were, several examples are found here in the Museum. The edge has an oblique reeding that does not reach the edge of the coin. There is some environmental damage that I hope can be somewhat cured by the NGC Conservation services. At that point the coin will be re-imaged here. In hand the coin is much better than the photo, Very Scarce. The sub type here is the scarcest one (KM) that features a 'Raised Line' across the hull. This is a first year & single year issue for the half penny.